This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Springfield
Township Zoning Ordinance." The accompanying District Map shall be
known and may be cited as the "Springfield Township Zoning Map."
In accordance with the authority granted to Springfield Township
through the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247, as
reenacted and amended),[1] this chapter and map are intended to:
A.Â
Regulate the density of population;
B.Â
Regulate the location and use of buildings, structures and land for
residential, agricultural, commercial, industrial and other purposes;
C.Â
Regulate the height, bulk, number of stories, size and placement
of buildings and structures;
D.Â
Divide the Township into districts of such size, shape and area,
and to establish such Zoning Map, as may be deemed best suited to
carry out the regulations; and
E.Â
Establish procedures for the administration, enforcement, amendment,
and relief from hardships under certain circumstances.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
These regulations are deemed necessary in order to encourage
beneficial growth in the Township while keeping the density of development
consistent with existing Township facilities and the Township's ability
to develop new facilities needed. These regulations are expected to:
A.Â
Promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare;
B.Â
Conserve and stabilize property values through encouragement of the
most appropriate uses of land in relation to adjacent properties,
with consideration given to the physical characteristics of the property,
and its value, as well;
C.Â
Secure safety from fire, flood, panic and other dangers by providing
for adequate open spaces for light, air and amenity, and by promoting
emergency preparedness and operations;
D.Â
Preserve forests, agricultural lands, and recreation areas in their
natural state, or from conflict with urban development;
E.Â
Protect floodplains and manage the release of stormwater to minimize
downstream flooding;
F.Â
Prevent the overcrowding or improper development of land, incompatible
uses of land, and/or blighting conditions;
G.Â
Facilitate the economic provision of safe, adequate and reliable
transportation, water supply, sewage disposal, public schools, parks
and other public requirements;
H.Â
Avoid congestion in travel and transportation, and maintain and improve
the carrying capacity and safety of major roads;
I.Â
Reduce the cost of building roads and installing utilities, and the
subsequent cost of Township operations; and
J.Â
Encourage similar controls upon development in adjacent municipalities
where logical zoning district boundaries extend across municipal lines.
No structure shall be located, erected, demolished, constructed,
moved, externally altered, converted or enlarged nor shall any structure
or land use be used or designed to be used except in full compliance
with this chapter and after the lawful issuance of all permits and
certifications required by this chapter.
A.Â
The Township Board of Supervisors shall, from time to time, establish
by resolution a schedule of fees, charges and expenses and a collection
procedure for zoning permits and certificates, appeals and other matters
pertaining to this chapter. The schedule of fees may be posted in
the Township offices, and may be amended only by official action by
the Township Board of Supervisors.
B.Â
No permit, certificate, application or variance shall be issued,
nor shall any action be taken on proceedings before the Zoning Hearing
Board, unless or until such costs, charges, fees or expenses have
been paid in full.
C.Â
A zoning permit or certificate shall be required for all new construction,
additions or alterations affecting exterior dimensions of existing
structures, and for any structural or interior changes required for
a change of the structure's use, or for any change in use.
D.Â
Any application for amendment, variance, special exception, conditional
use, permit or any other application or certificate within the scope
of this chapter, shall be accompanied by a fee; such fee to be established
by resolution of the Township Board of Supervisors, who may, from
time to time revise such fees in order to bear a reasonable relationship
to the costs involved.
This chapter shall not apply to property owned by Springfield
Township in the exercise of its municipal functions. The Township
will develop and control property in accordance with existing charters
and codes, and will have no obligation to enforce the provisions of
this chapter upon itself.
Whenever the provisions of this chapter are at variance with
provisions in other parts of this chapter or any other lawfully adopted
rules, regulations or ordinances, the more restrictive requirements
shall govern.
Should any section or provision of this chapter be declared
by the courts to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall
not affect the validity of this chapter as a whole, nor the validity
of any other section or provision of this chapter other than the one
so declared.
Any resolution or ordinance or any part of any resolution or
ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this chapter is hereby
repealed to the extent of such conflict.
A.Â
Property owned, leased or operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
or the United States, or any other public or governmental body or
agency shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter as follows:
B.Â
Governmental entities and agencies shall be exempt from the provisions
of this chapter only to the extent that it has been determined that
the Township has no power to apply its zoning regulations to the particular
use of land.